Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition involving a slight decline in memory and thinking skills, have a greater risk of developing walking problems and experiencing falls. It has been unclear whether combining different types of therapies can improve their mobility.

This study investigated if combining exercise, brain training, and vitamin D supplements could work together to improve walking performance and lower the risk of falls in older adults with MCI.

The research, known as the SYNERGIC trial, followed 161 adults with MCI, aged 65 to 84, who were enrolled between 2016 and 2020. The study tested various combinations of a 20-week program that included aerobic and resistance exercise, computerized brain training, and a high-dose vitamin D supplement (10,000 IU three times per week). Researchers measured walking speed and walking consistency, which is a marker of stability. They also tracked the number of falls and falls that resulted in injury. These measurements were taken at the beginning of the study, after the 20-week program ended (at 6 months), and again six months later (at 12 months).

Among the participants, the groups that took part in an exercise program walked faster at the 6-month mark. Exercise also led to a reduction in falls and falls that cause injury at 6 months. By the 12-month check-in, the reduction in falls for the exercise groups was statistically significant, meaning the effect was unlikely to be due to chance.

When compared to a control group that did not receive the interventions, the combination of exercise and cognitive brain training resulted in the largest improvement in walking speed at the 6-month point. This same combination also produced the greatest reduction in falls when measured at the 12-month follow-up.

Taking vitamin D supplements did not provide additional benefits. In fact, it was associated with increased gait variability, which can be a sign of less stable walking.

In conclusion, a combination of aerobic-resistance exercise and sequential computerized cognitive training improved walking performance at 6 months and lowered the risk of falls and injuries at 12 months for older adults with MCI. The addition of vitamin D did not enhance these outcomes.